System and process for VCR scheduling

Abstract

A VCR schedule controller receives broadcast data over antenna (1) or cable (2) by a programmable tuner (3), which is connected to a teletext receiver (4). The teletext receiver (4) is connected to a microprocessor (5). Microprocessor output (11) is connected to a video display generator (10), used to create text for television receiver (60) to display a message from the microprocessor (5). After processing embedded data in a broadcast, the microprocessor (5) generates a cue for display on TV receiver (60). Remote control receiver (20) receives a command from a remote controller (22) from a viewer input in response to the cue. Remote control receiver (20) supplies a control signal to cause the microprocessor to store the embedded data in memory (9). The microprocessor then issues a message to the display generator (10) as an acknowledgement of the viewer input. The microprocessor (5) monitors the system clock (6) and compares it with stored schedules from the embedded supplemental data. When the system time corresponds to one of the scheduled times, the microprocessor (5) sets the programmable tuner (3) to the stored channel and initiates recording on VCR (30).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast, which comprises a recording device, a broadcast receiver, a data processor connected to said recording device and to said broadcast receiver, said data processor including means responsive to a cue broadcast at a first time with, and in addition to, a program comprising the primary broadcast for presenting the cue on the broadcast receiver during, and simultaneous with presenting the primary broadcast on the receiver, the cue indicating the availability at a second time later than the first time of the supplemental broadcast information pertaining to the primary broadcast, means connected to the data processor for receiving a user response to the cue, and means responsive to the user response to the cue for controlling said recording device to record the supplemental broadcast information at the second time. 
     
     
       2. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 in which schedule information for the supplemental broadcast information is provided with the primary broadcast, and said data processor is configured to store the schedule information in response to the user response to the cue and to use the schedule information to record the supplemental broadcast information with said recording device when the supplemental broadcast information is broadcast. 
     
     
       3. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 2 in which said recording device is a video cassette recorder and said broadcast received is a television set. 
     
     
       4. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 in which said data processor is further configured to provide acknowledgment to the user of the user response to the cue. 
     
     
       5. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 in which said data processor is further configured to provide a menu display to the user in response to a user response to the cue and to receive user menu selections. 
     
     
       6. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 in which said system includes means for creating and storing an index of recorded material. 
     
     
       7. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 6 in which said system includes means for recording the index on a tape including the recorded material. 
     
     
       8. A system for recording and indexing broadcast information, which comprises a recording device for receiving and recording the broadcast information, means for receiving and storing schedule information, a data processor connected to said recording device, said data processor including means for creating and storing an index of location and identification of recorded broadcast information from index inputs received from the schedule information and from said recording device, said system including a memory for storing information identifying a local channel number on which a cable channel is supplied. 
     
     
       9. A system for recording and indexing broadcast information, which comprises a recording device for receiving and recording the broadcast information, a data processor connected to said recording device, said data processor including means for creating and storing an index of recorded broadcast information, said system including means for recording the index on a recording medium including the recorded material, said system including a memory for storing information identifying a local channel number on which a cable channel is supplied. 
     
     
       10. The system for recording and indexing broadcast information of claim 9 in which said system includes means for selecting broadcast information for recording from schedule information and said means for creating and storing the index is configured to compile the index from the schedule information. 
     
     
       11. A process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary television broadcast, which comprises broadcasting a cue during and in addition to the broadcast at a first time, providing the cue to the user during, and simultaneous with showing of the primary broadcast, the cue indicating the availability at a second time later than the first time of supplemental broadcast information relating to the primary broadcast, receiving a response to the cue from the user, and supplying the supplemental broadcast information to the user at the second time after receiving the cue response from the user. 
     
     
       12. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 in which schedule information for the supplemental broadcast information is provided with the primary broadcast, the process further comprising storing the schedule information after the user response to the cue and using the schedule information to record the supplemental broadcast information with a recording device when the supplemental broadcast information is broadcast. 
     
     
       13. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 additionally comprising providing acknowledgment to the user of the user response to the cue. 
     
     
       14. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 additionally comprising providing a menu display to the user in response to a user response to the cue, receiving user menu selections, and supplying the supplemental broadcast information in accordance with the user menu selections. 
     
     
       15. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 additionally comprising creating and storing an index of recorded material. 
     
     
       16. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation to a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 15 additionally comprising recording the index on a tape including the recorded material. 
     
     
       17. A process for recording and indexing broadcast information, which comprises receiving a user input identifying a local channel number on which a cable channel is received, storing information corresponding to the user input identifying the local channel number on which the cable channel is supplied, receiving and recording the broadcast information, creating and storing an index of recorded broadcast information, and recording the index on a recording medium including the recorded material. 
     
     
       18. The process for recording and indexing broadcast information of claim 17 additionally comprising selecting broadcast information for recording from schedule information and in which the index is created from the schedule information. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 8 in which said means for creating and storing an index is configured to store at least a title of the broadcast information as the index input from the schedule information. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 19 in which said means for creating and storing an index is configured to store at least a numeric location of the recorded information as the index input from the recording device. 
     
     
       21. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation of a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 additionally comprising a memory, said data processor being configured to store information identifying a local channel number on which a cable channel is supplied in said memory. 
     
     
       22. The system to allow interactive selection for presentation of a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 1 in which the primary broadcast is an advertisement and the supplemental broadcast information is further details about the subject of the advertisement. 
     
     
       23. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation of a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 additionally comprising the steps of receiving a user input identifying a local channel number on which a cable channel is supplied, and storing the local number on which a cable channel is supplied. 
     
     
       24. The process to allow interactive selection for presentation of a user of supplemental broadcast information pertaining to a primary broadcast of claim 11 in which the broadcast is an advertisement and the supplemental information is further details about the subject of the advertisement.